Was at my grandparent's in Florida at the time, the only way I could keep up with the game was by listening on the radio. I remember the Mets hit a club- record 6HR in this game, apparently they had the air conditioning in Olympic staduim jacked up (Taking a lead from the previous year's World Champion Twins, perhaps?). Unfortunately, it backfired on them. Strawberry hit a bomb in the 6th that still hasn't come down yet.

It was Gary Carter's 34th birthday. He was 3-for- 3...a single, double, and a homer, plus a walk. Then to top it off, Carter was tagged out for the last out of the game by Phillies SS Steve Jeltz on a hidden ball trick!

This was the second Mets game I attended. A sun-soaked Sunday afternoon, Calendar Day, the Cardinals in town and a raucous, sellout crowd on hand.

Ron Darling started for the Mets in this game, and for the most part, it was a neat pitchers duel between him and Jose DeLeon.

Terry Pendleton (he always seems to do it to us) and Jim Lindeman hit back to back HRs in the 4th inning, though, and the Mets still trailed 2-0 into the 8th.

But DeLeon tired in the 8th, and the Mets broke through. Backman walked and Hernandez singled him over to 3rd. Strawberry drove home Backman with a single. Worrell came in and gave up the tying hit to McReynolds and the game was even.

For some reason, Herzog then pinch-hit for Worrell in the 9th, and ran Steve Peters out for the bottom of the inning. He gave up a single to Mookie and threw away a pickoff to get Mookie to second.

With 2 outs, Kevin Elster, who had not yet established himself as a starter, lined a single to left to score Mookie and get himself his first GW hit (and GWRBI, in the era that it was an official stat). I remember the team mobbing him at first base afterwards.

Fine afternoon and a nice, tight comeback win as the Mets continued their hot start in 88.

April 19, 1988 Shea Stadium
Philadelphia Phillies 10, Mets 2

Gord
February 28, 2011

I remember going to this game with my parents and best friend Jimmy. We had box seats from our friend Murray, right along the first base line. I was 7 years old and began learning how to keep score for the first time that night. Jimmy was already a pro thanks to his Strat-O-Matic baseball games with his dad, so he was teaching me how to do it.

My clearest memories of Shea that night are that Terry Leach got rocked so bad that he threw his glove into the crowd in frustration when he was pulled from the game, and it was extremely cold in the later innings. People around us had blankets, but my mom was freezing and lamenting the fact that she only brought a denim jacket.

I was also fairly confident that Bob Ojeda pitched. By searching this outstanding database with the few clues I had (e.g., night game early in the '88 season), I was able to pinpoint this specific game. Thanks so much UltimateMets.com for providing such a wonderful resource for true Met fans!

Keith Hernandez had his first two homers of the 1988 season in this game. The first came off Tom Glavine in the fifth inning, and the second was a grand slam off Charlie Puleo in the eighth. Keith had seven RBIs in the game, including the 1,000th of his career.

Gary Carter also homered in this game off Glavine. That gave Gary seven homers on the young season and 298 for his career. He would hit number 299 three weeks later but then would go homerless for 225 at bats (almost three months) before hitting number 300. After hitting seven homers in the team's first eighteen games, Gary finished the season with just 11 home runs.

Dwight Gooden struggled early, giving up four runs and six hits through the first four innings. but he settled down and wound up with a complete game ten-hitter, and improved his record to 5-0.

This was the infamous Dave Palone-Pete Rose Game. An exciting game to the end, things really heated up when Reds manager Pete Rose argued a call with Umpire Dave Palone. Palone accidentially poked Rose with his finger. Rose responded by shoving the umpire. Rose was tossed, the crowd tossed debris on the field for 15 minutes and the Reds faced a possible forfeit. It was the only time I'd ever attended a game in my Mets garb where I was physically threatened after the game by irate, drunken Reds fans.

Rose received a month-long suspension over the incident and Palone's career was ruined.

Shickhaus Franks
February 18, 2011

Besides Pete Rose shoving Dave Pallone, there was a benches clearing brawl in the 7th (the Mets and Reds had 3 skirmishes in the late 80's) in which Reds P Tom Browning hit Tim Teufel with a pitch. Darryl Strawberry, who had hit his 6th HR early in the game, and Browning were ejected!!! I remember watching this game at my cousin's house as we were going back between the Mets game and the New Jersey Devils playoff game. I'm just wondering if SNY, the Mets or MLB have a copy of this crazy game from Riverfront because SNY has JUMPED THE SHARK with Mets Classics. (They showed Cone's 19K masterpiece from Oct 6, 1991 YET AGAIN!!!!) If there is a copy of this game, FOR THE LOVE OF PUPPIES PLEASE SHOW IT ON SNY OR MLB NETWORK!!

The fans got so bad with the items being thrown after that Rose incident that when the Mets took the field in the bottom half of the 9th inning, Keith and HoJo both wore their batting helmets onto the field at 1st and 3rd base.

Also noteworthy: when the final out was recorded by the Mets, they didn't even stay on the field to shake hands; they ran off the field for fear of the fans throwing more stuff. Truly a GREATLY underrated crazy Mets game in our history.

May 1, 1988 Riverfront Stadium
Mets 11, Cincinnati Reds 0

Michael
November 7, 2008

The Mets hit 3 consecutive homers in the 5th inning in this game. Teufel, Keith and Strawberry (who hit a MOONSHOT). And the next batter, McReynolds, hit a ball to the warning track.

Shocked no one has commented on this one yet. Straw hit the game winning homer in the 10th off our future friend John Franco (the 2nd game ending homer Straw hit off him, the other was in 1985) as the Mets won yet another early season game in 88, starting off the season red hot.

I remember this game for a few reasons. First, it was a Friday night game. Second, it was my first time ever seeing Doc pitch live. Third, We had field level seats down the right field line..pretty much front row if I remember correctly. Sounds like the makings of a great night..right?

Well the first 3 reasons made for a pretty good night, but what makes this game FOREVER stick out in my mind was the fact that with the Mets trailing 3-2 going into the bottom of the 10th inning, my father decides, "Ok, time to go home." He wanted to beat the traffic. And despite me PLEADING with him, saying, "Dad, c'mon, ONE guy gets on, Straw has a chance to win it with one swing of the bat." My dad was like, "Tony, he's a BUM. He'll strike out at a pitch in the dirt, out of the strike zone," which as we all remember, Darryl was prone to do. "Besides," my Dad said, "We can listen to it when we get in the car."

Well, as we were walking through the Shea parking lot to the car all of the sudden we hear the crowd absolutely erupt. I looked at my dad, shook my head and we get in the car just in time to hear Gary Cohen screaming that, of course, Straw had hit the game winning walk off home run. To this day, I have never seen that home run, and I have never forgiven my dad for it!

The Mets were down, 8-5, going to the top of the ninth at the Astrodome. Luckily, Dave Smith came on to pitch for Houston.

The Mets loaded the bases with one out, and then Tim Teufel hit a line drive that cleared the fence in left center for an apparent grand slam to put the Mets ahead. However, it struck the concrete outer wall and came back on the field. The umpires incorrectly ruled it a three-run double, which tied the game and sent it into extra innings.

The Mets wound up winning in the tenth on a single by Kevin McReynolds. Doc Gooden and Mike Scott combined to give up twelve runs in this game!

David Cone gets a 5-0 lead after two innings and coasts to a 5-2 win at Dodger Stadium. Fernando Valenzuela was the Dodger starter but he allowed two walks and six hits (including a two-run homer by Darryl Strawberry) in just 1.2 innings. Cone improved to 5-0 with the win and Roger McDowell pitched the last three innings for the save.

With the Mets up 5-0 and one out in the bottom of the sixth, David Cone hit Pedro Guerrero in the helmet with a curveball. Guerrero threw his bat at Cone, was ejected from the game and was suspended for four games.

May 30, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 3, Los Angeles Dodgers 2

Get's by Buckner
October 19, 2011

Went to the game with my girlfriend, my brother and a friend. Good news and bad news. Good news - The Mets won! Bad news - my girlfriend told me she was dating someone else! At least I got to see the Mets win!

The 1988 season had A LOT of exciting wins, and this one may have been #1. Gooden let a late lead get away but the Mets came back with 2 in the bottom of the 10th. Then in the 11th Kevin Elster hit the walk-off homer off future Met Alejandro Pena. This was the first of 3 walk-off homers for the Mets in a span of 5 games.

June 2, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 2, Chicago Cubs 1

flushing flash
October 9, 2002

What a ballgame! A pitching duel for the ages, Schiraldi nine scoreless (who would have believed it?), Cone ten with one run allowed. I sat in the field level for this one, several rows behind diehard Cubbie fan Bill Murray. He signed my scorebook "Bill Murray - Cubs Power" and when I asked him what movie he was working on, he said it was a Christmas movie called "Scrooged". And Mr. Bill stayed for the duration, past midnight, straight through HoJo's game winning home run to centerfield. Afterwards, we waited for him to leave his seat and walk down the aisle so we could razz him as he passed by.

June 4, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 6, Chicago Cubs 5

Jeff In Florida
January 2, 2005

This was a very exciting game in which Kevin McReynolds hit the game winning home run. I was excited that Jeff Innis got his first major league win this day!

I remember being at this game on Beach Towel day, which came in handy when there was a fairly lengthy rain delay early on. It was a 3:20 start on a nationally televised Saturday afternoon game. The Mets led 3-0 and Darling had a 1-hitter going into the 8th. But he fell apart, and the Cubs eventually took a 4-3 lead off of Myers in the 9th. But the Mets tied it on a Goose Gossage wild pitch in the last of the 9th.

My mother got fed up and, despite my protests, took me home after the 10th inning. Which is when the game started to get really interesting. Carter ended up playing 3B, the Cubs took a lead in the top of the 11th, only to see the Mets tie it, and then McReynolds hit the winning HR in the 13th.

I remember being on the subway and hearing a number of fans listening on the radio and cheering when the ball went out. Wish my mother would have stuck it out. She was never much for those long, cold afternoons at Shea.

Ed K
April 12, 2012

One of two games in which Gary Carter played at 3B for the Mets and they won both in extra innings. The other game was the infamous 1986 game against the Reds when the Mets had to have Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell play the outfield. Carter also played at 3B once for the Expos.

Rocky
August 11, 2015

We were in the left field bleachers. Those towels came in handy, it was cold out there!

June 5, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 11, Chicago Cubs 3

Jeff In Florida
May 26, 2004

This is a game I will always remember. I had box seats and had the pleasure to dream for just a little while. Gooden hit a home run and then brought a no hitter into the 8th when he gave up a hit. I remember being sad that he didn't get the no hitter, but even more so that the game turned into another bland post 1985 Dwight Gooden start. 5 hits, 3 runs, and only 4 K's.

What a frustrating weekend this turned out to be. My cousins and I drove up to Montreal to see all three games of this series (plus the NHL Entry Draft which was held at the Forum). The Mets lost the first two games of the series without much of a fight, but led the final game with Sid Fernandez on the mound. Sid had 10 K's and allowed only one hit through 8 innings with the Mets leading 3-0. We thought we were going to salvage one game and go home with our heads up. Instead Davey Johnson brought in Randy Myers to start the 9th. Myers did not record an out, but did allow 2 hits including a 3-run HR to Andres Gallaraga to tie the game. Hubie Brooks' single won it for the Expos in the 11th. What was Davey thinking?

C. Peart
June 13, 2003

My first-ever major-league game. I was 15, and a big Mets fan, and my uncles took me to Montreal for the game. Sid Fernandez pitched so well, and I couldn't figure out why Davey Johnson pulled him. Randy Myers gave up a three-run homer to Andres Galarraga (who at the time was leading the league in all three Triple Crown categories, by the way) in the bottom of the ninth, which broke my heart. I've hated Randy Myers' guts ever since that day. Great game, anyhow, especially for the home crowd. And there really was a crowd back then -- maybe 15,000 people, as opposed to the 3,000 or 4,000 who attend games there now.

FeatFan, according to retrosheet.org, Alicea's first game was 4/23/88. He did have two hits this night off Ojeda. Bobby O scattered nine hits and a walk, and the Cards left eleven runners on base.

Dykstra had three hits: a single to lead off the bottom of the first, a double to drive in two runs in the second, and a leadoff triple in the seventh. Ojeda also had a single and a double and drove in a run.

I belong to an a capella singing group, The Metrognomes, and we sang the national anthem before this game; this would be a huge thrill for any Mets fan. David Cone went on to toss 7 2/3 perfect innings before yielding an infield hit on a slow roller up the 3B line.

Just an addendum to Stu's earlier note on this game: Cone had a no-hitter for 7.2 innings, but it was not a perfect game. He walked Steve Jeltz in the third inning, and he hit Phil Bradley with a pitch in the top of the eighth. Two batters later, Jeltz broke up the no-hitter with a clean single to center.

Milt Thompson then singled with one out in the ninth to turn the one-hitter into a two-hitter. Coney struck out seven and improved to 8-1.

A key game from the 88 season. In the 6th inning, Jim Leyland had Straw intentionally walked to get to McReynolds. And he responded with a grand slam to give the Mets a 4-0 lead, which was all Darling would need on this night.

This was the game where Jim Leyland had Doug Drabek
intentionally walk Straw to get to McReynolds. The
move backfired and Kevin hit a grand slam to break
a scoreless tie. The Mets would tack on plenty to
win 9-0 in an important June game.

An NBC Saturday game of the week. Bob Ojeda plunked Andre Dawson and Dawson tried to charge the mound but has held back by Gary Carter who had him in a bear hug. I remember this was such a big deal to me because I was young and hadn't really seen many altercations like this even though it wasn't even a brawl. A guess its that WWF mentality that was installed in me from watching wrestling those days. Mets ended up losing.

June 29, 1988 Three Rivers Stadium
Mets 8, Pittsburgh Pirates 7

Jeff In Florida
January 10, 2005

HOJO hit a Bomb off of Jim Gott to tie the game with two outs and two strikes against him in the 9th and the Mets won it in Extras. I remember the headline said "Howard Johnson Home Run Helps The Mets Get Gott!"

Metaphysical
February 22, 2006

I remember watching this game on Channel 9 during a sleepover with my friend. I had played wiffleball that night and pretended to be Lenny Dykstra by stuffing a handful of wild blackberries in my mouth and spitting them. Baad idea. I wound up puking everywhere and missed Hojo's HR, the great catch by Dykstra and the nifty double play to win it! Moral of the story: blackberries = evil.

This was second game of a twi-night double header. Remember those? This was a loooong night! The first game was a close affair Mets pulled it out but dropped the second, my girl was tired but hung in there til the end of a 13 ininng game #2. We had to park in one of the grass "lots" and not our usual spot behind left field lot. When we came out to the car it had been hit with a baseball bat as had some others and one guy's car was stolen. We had to go back into the bowels of Shea and make a police report. Which was pretty cool. I remember wanting to walk around and look for some Tommie Agee heirlooms. My wife has never let me forget that night; it was her new Red 1988 Ford Tempo with a huge dent becuse of the METS 6 hour plus double header.

Educated Fan
October 21, 2007

I remember feeling bad for Gene Walter in this game.

In the 13th, with Billy Hatcher on first, he alertly threw to first while Hatcher was stealing, and had him picked off. But Keith Hernandez dropped the easy throw, and Hatcher made second easily. Unfortunately, by rule, Hatcher just got a stolen base. There was no error, Gene Walter got an earned run, and took the loss after Hatcher scored on a single.

July 3, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 5, Houston Astros 0

Hank M
March 9, 2005

I remember going to this game on a warm, sunny Sunday. From the upper deck along the right field line, I watched Sid Fernandez throw a two-hit shutout against the Astros. There was only one clean hit, which was a Glenn Davis single to left. The other hit could have been scored an error, but wasn't.

Sid also got two hits of his own, both solidly hit into the outfield, matching the total he allowed.

I also recall that it was Family Day. The players' families were on hand. Mookie Wilson's son Preston, a teenager at the time, was among them.

After the game, I went to visit my uncle, who lived only a few miles from Shea. I stayed with him for about an hour. This turned out to be the last time I would see him alive. He died suddenly the following December.

Tim Schmitt
October 11, 2017

My first MLB game ever! I was 5, sat upper deck left field, and fondly remember the last out when Shea went nuts for El Sid throwing a complete game
and beating the Express!

July 4, 1988 Shea Stadium
Cincinnati Reds 5, Mets 1

Hot Foot
October 21, 2015

I was at this game. I went with my family to celebrate the Fourth of July. We had field level seats on the third base side. The best thing about this game weren't the seats or even the game; it was the fireworks show after the game. It was really cool to see a fireworks show inside Shea Stadium. Besides the fireworks show, the game was a snoozer.

I only thing I really remember about the game is that Jose Rijo absolutely shut down the Mets. It was a big disappointment because the Mets usually won when I went to Shea. I don't remember which specific games I went to in 1988 like I do re: 1986, but this was one and it was still a shock to see them lose in person. One of only three losses from David Cone's 1988 regular season.

July 5, 1988 Shea Stadium
Cincinnati Reds 3, Mets 1

tom g
May 27, 2002

I remember this game so vividly, because my friend and I had seats in the front row down the left field line and I got a ball handed to me by the Reds pitcher, Jose Rijo. He would later autograph it for me. Rijo was in a happy mood, because he had beaten us the night before. I remember actually talking to him about how great he had pitched the previous night and he was very nice.

One of the last games I ever attended at Shea. The Mets were good, and were up against the awful Atlanta Braves, who were throwing out somebody who was making his MLB debut.

Thing is, this somebody was GOOD. Very good. His name was John Smoltz, and he totally shut down the Mets. One run on 4 hits, and the Braves won 6-1. Many fans around me had no idea what they were watching. One yahoo kept shouting, "this guy's got NOTHING!!! Why can't we hit him?" Too bad he didn't appreciate what he saw.

sportsfan8690
August 5, 2009

Was at this game sitting in Field Box on 1B side as it was Old Timers day and Tom Seaver weekend. Saw all the retired players play a pick up game against each other as everyone was excited of Seaver getting his #41 retired the next day.

We all knew Seaver was on his way to Cooperstown but little did anyone know this day we would see the debut of someone else now headed to Cooperstown-John Smoltz. Before this game me and no one else I knew ever heard of Smoltz. Well we all knew him by the end of the game. Just shut the Mets down completely and struck out Strawberry for his 1st of 3000+ career strikeouts. This was a statement from Smoltz that he has arrived on the MLB level in a big way and will be known and he now is and will now be joining Seaver in Cooperstown someday. This certainly was the beginning of the big turnaround for the Braves as they were the joke of the NL for many years at the time. I can say I saw some history on this day.

July 24, 1988 Shea Stadium
Atlanta Braves 4, Mets 2

Jeff In Florida
May 28, 2003

This was Tom Seaver Day at Shea. It was also the major league debut of John Smoltz.

Smoltz actually made his debut the day before, July 23, and (as so many rookies have done over the years) pitched a masterpiece against the Mets!

This day was certainly very special. I still have it on video and I remember Seaver in his suit and tie, making his speech and then jogging to the mound and bowing to all corners of the crowd at Shea. It brought tears to my eyes. I was 15 when the Mets won in 1969 and Seaver and Joe Namath were--and still are--my all time sports heroes!

Putbeds 1986
January 15, 2006

I was at this game and it was the only time I ever saw a player get his number retired in person. The weather was not the greatest (cloudy with a hint of rain) but the ceremony was picture perfect and I remember at the time there was a big stink that the ceremony and the game was NOT on Channel 9 but on Sportschannel and that NOT everybody would be able to see it. Two great home run hitters belted round-trippers that day (Straw and Dale Murphy). The Mets lost that day, 4-2.

Vince
June 24, 2006

I got tickets for this game before the season began because it was the day the Mets retired Seaver's number.

It was by far the worst seats I ever had for a Met game and practically the worst seat you can possibly have:

Upper Deck Section 47, second to last row on the far aisle.

Basically, there were about two people in the ballpark who had worse seats for that game.

Plus the Mets lost 4-2.

alyssa
March 9, 2016

Was Seaver day at Shea. What a great memory, one that I'll never forget.

July 29, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 1, Pittsburgh Pirates 0

Barry F.
March 28, 2002

It was a Friday night and the Pirates were making noise, challenging the Mets still for first place. Ojeda vs. Smiley, a pretty decent pitching matchup. I attended this game at the last minute with my girlfriend at the time and we got tickets from somebody scalping by Gate C right about at gametime. Really good mezzanine seats at a decent price.

Anyway, a gorgeous night and it was scoreless into the bottom of the eighth. Ojeda was in complete control, but Smiley was sharp too. Then Elster, who didn't hit a lot of homers, hit this towering fly to left. Bonds went back to the fence at the 358 sign in front of the bullpen, leaped, and it was just inches over his outstretched glove for a homer. Mets won 1-0. A sweet game to win.

Jeff In Florida
January 10, 2005

I was at this game and the Mets had been in a slump. I remember the Pirate media was all hyped up and some stupid reporter said, "It's not the Big Apple, it's the big applesauce. We're not afraid of the Mets!" Well, thanks Bobby O for the all heart and guts effort. I had the pleasure to score this game and I still have the program.

Mike A.
December 18, 2007

I was at this game in the left field Mezzanine section. The weather was unbelievably hot that night, even for Shea Stadium.

As the first poster stated, Bonds just barely missed catching Elster's HR by a matter of inches!

Shea was packed that night, had to be a sellout. So when Bonds couldn't make that catch, the place just exploded...probably one of the loudest crowds I ever heard at a Mets game!

July 30, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 3, Pittsburgh Pirates 0

paul
February 2, 2004

This was the first (and last) game I ever attended at Shea. I am from Pittsburgh and the Pirates were surging. This series put an end to that. I can still picture Brian Fisher with that dead arm giving up that long HR to Johnson.

This was a defining game for the 88 Mets. It was a friday night and Keith Hernandez came back from the DL after injuring his hamstring. He hit a home run late in the game to win it for the Mets. I remember the final out of the game was recorded on a fan interference play. Wally Backman was coming over towards the stands on a foul pop and a fan reached out and prevented him from catching it. He told the fan off, it was wild.

This was Rick Reed's Major League debut. The Mets had been on and off stagnant all summer, but managed to keep the Bucs at bay. On the verge of sweeping them, they bring up this guy nobody's ever heard of, and on "Monday Night Baseball," he shuts us out for eight innings. One of our gracious guys, Backman, I think, said, "I'd forgotten what minor league pitching looks like." That was one of the few times during the glory days that I was embarrassed by the Mets--not that they lost, but that they were such jerks about it. When Reeder appeared almost nine years later, I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought that he was once a passing thorn in our side.

Kevin
August 12, 2003

If you're into numerology... On 8/8/88, #8 Gary Carter, who had 8 HRs on the season at the time committed hist 8th error of the year.

I came up the afternoon before from Indianapolis to see a friend in Chicago and the Mets, who were coming to town the next night. I tried to get tickets for the Cubs first night game that day, Aug. 8. That game, obviously, was sold out. I got two "standing room only" tickets for the Aug. 9 game with the Mets, and box seats for the Aug. 10 afternoon game.

As luck would have it, it absolutely poured the night of Aug. 8, raining out the Cubs game.

The next night, my friend and I, sitting on the ramp rails between the upper and lower decks along the third base side, watched this game become the first official "night game" at Wrigley.

Shickhaus Franks
November 3, 2006

August 1988 was a crazy time in the world! Millions of Catholics screaming bloody mad over "The Last Temptation of Christ" and the country of Canada crying tons of tears when Wayne Gretzky got traded to the LA Kings. But when the Cubs finally got lights after so many years, that took the cake. Actually, the Phillies vs Cubs were supposed to be the 1st but due to the rainout, the Mets got the honor. At the time, my cable company in Northern New Jersey had the FOX Philadelphia station and they got to broadcast the game before the rains came and so forth. NBC had the priviledge of showing Mets-Cubs on this night. Btw, Wrigley Field was supposed to get lights for the 1942 season but then Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and Mr. Wrigley donated the lights to the war effort and they waited 45+ years until MLB (and Network TV) put the Cubs in a headlock and they reluctantly got lights for night baseball.

Suprised no one else has said anything about this game. I believe this is when Carter hit his 300th homer after a 2 month drought, and Mets scored 5 in top of 9th. McReynolds hits grand slam off of Gossage.

Kevin hit a grand slam off of Gossage, who had made disparaging comments re Kevin's desire, hunger, etc. Quiet Kevin hit a bomb off him to win the game.

This was a day game at Wrigley. I heard it driving home on I-78 in New Jersey...roasting hot, bumper-to-bumper. KMac hit the granny and I started blowing the horn on my Chevy S-10. People were staring.

Ricky
November 3, 2008

I was at this day game I think a couple of days before the first night game at Wrigley ever. Living in Chicago that particular summer of '88 .Great fun, quite a few NY Mets fans in Chicago at the game. McReynolds with a Grannie I think in the 8th or 9th off Gossage to win it essentially and Gary Carter with his 300th earlier in the game over the left field wire fence -- Nice Shot!! Gooden started this one. The beer sure was flowing that afternoon.

Cubs fan here, but I love baseball. I caught Gary Carter's 300th home run that night. I have been to hundreds of Cubs games and this is the only homer that I caught or even came close to catching.

I was standing against the left field bleacher fence with my brother when the ball came towards me. The ball went over everybody's heads and hit the top of the fence. It then bounced on the ground and I jumped on it. I must've had 10 guys pile on me. I was drenched in beer and I broke my new sunglasses. I finally emerged from the pile and stood on top of the last bleacher seat waving the ball in the air. I kind of taunted the crowd for a little while because I had about 30,000 people chanting "throw it back".

I have never before or since experienced so much attention. Being a die hard Cubs fan, I never thought twice about keeping the ball. I whipped it as hard as I could and made it on to the infield.

I must've shook hundreds of hands that night. I did not pay for a drink the rest of the night after the game.

I met Gary when he came back to Wrigley and he signed a ball and a newspaper clipping.

Since that day I have followed Gary's career and I am so saddened about his brain cancer. I always thought I would be able to meet him again and talk about that night. If any of you Mets fans have any memorabilia from that home run or events leading up to it, please contact me at mike@wulf.com. The Mets have become my second favorite team since that day.

August 13, 1988 Shea Stadium
Montreal Expos 7, Mets 4

Joe From Jersey
December 11, 2005

Me, my brother and my cousin were at this game. It was very hot, around 95 degrees. Bobby O didn't have his stuff and for the rest of the game we were checking out this gorgeous blonde in a turqouise tank top and shorts. After the game, we saw the same blonde and she was looking for Kevin McReynolds.

August 14, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 4, Montreal Expos 3

Joshua Spitz
February 18, 2011

This was the first Mets game I ever attended. I was 11. It was a scheduled double-header with activities between the two games. We watched the beginning of the game at home on TV and then listened to it on the radio as we drove to Shea. It was the ninth inning by the time we could see the field. As we walked to our seats, the Mets proceeded to load the bases. It was a Sunday game and the Mets were in first in mid August and it was a beautiful day. So Shea was packed. We had just made it to our seats when Tim Teufel hit a sacrifice fly to left field. It was a close play at the plate, but when the umpire called Hojo 'safe', Shea erupted. It's quite a wonderful first memory of Shea.

Was in SF for two straight games, this being the first. Mets set a team record for first inning runs in an away game. It was over before it started. I have a photo of the Candlestick park outfield scoreboard showing that first inning 9-spot.

Jeff In Florida
January 10, 2005

I was at this game as well. I remember the 9-run first inning, and a Giant fan's comment that if not for the first inning, they would have beaten us 6-4. And as a kid I said, "6-4, blame Bob McClure!"

August 17, 1988 Candlestick Park
San Francisco Giants 4, Mets 0

son of the bronx
June 27, 2003

Second of my two Met games at Candlestick.

Mets were on fire the night before, Cone was on fire all that year but this night he was all wet. So, I was treated to one of only three Cone losses that year. Early in his career, he didn't have a game face - he would just show his dejection to the world.

A Coincidence: I also saw one of Ron Guidry's 3 losses in 1978. (2-1 Balt @Yankee Stadium 2-run hr by DeCinces following a Dent error!)

I had better seats for the Cone loss to the Giants, a few rows off short left field where I think the visiting Mets had their Warmup mounds. And yes, it was true that you had to bring a jacket to night games at Candlestick.

Brian, Tony Gwynn's double came with one out in the fourth inning for the only hit off Coney. He walked two batters and struck out eight while improving to 14-3.

In addition to his first HR, Jefferies also doubled and tripled in the game.

Len Dykstra was ejected in the second inning by home plate umpire Jim Quick after Dykstra was caught looking.

Elliot
October 13, 2008

This was my first ever baseball game. I was six years old, and my father took me with my brothers. I've been a diehard Mets fan ever since. I remember being so excited at being there for Gregg Jefferies first career HR. Of course, he didn't turn into the superstar everyone thought he would be.

Witz
January 26, 2009

I was also at this game and, if I recall correctly, Mookie struck out to end the game and was booed because Gregg was on deck and everyone was hoping to see him hit for the cycle.

One of four one hitters I've been at (Matlack '74, Seaver '76 and Seo/Weathers/Benitiez '03).

This would be a GREAT game for SNY to pull out of the vault if they have it.

Cone threw a masterful one hitter... Jefferies hits his first homer (a HUGE deal at the time obviously) and the Mets begin to close out the last stretch of the season in fantastic fashion, leading to a great and fun September.

August 30, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 1, San Diego Padres 0

Ed K
April 11, 2008

This was the third of three 1-0 shutouts pitched by Bobby O in 1988. The others came on April 14th and July 28th.

On this day, I went to the game with my girlfriend at the time, Dave Magadan hit a foul ball into the Loge section behind home plate, the ball bounced around in front of me until it landed right in my hands. I was pumped! My first ball, though I acquired it in a very unimpressive fashion, ball rolling under the seats into my hands.

A little boy asked if he could see the ball, as he was looking at it, I thought how can I take the ball away from him? So I told the young lad to keep the ball.

Well my whole section I was seating in went crazy, thought I was the greatest. They started chatting to my girlfriend to "sleep with (me) tonight."

It was funny, a whole section of the stadium chatting for my girlfriend to do the right thing. That's why I'm a Mets fan. Never would that happen at Yankee Stadium.

September 3, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 2, Los Angeles Dodgers 1

Flanker02905
April 3, 2003

This was the first Mets game I attended. I watched them all the time on Channel 9 while growing up. The Police Athletic League baseball team I played with Ebenezer Baptist Church won the league and tickets for the whole team. Driving to Flushing, Queens in a large van passing chips and soda around -- what a great day. We sat in section 27 in the upper deck. I remember that I told everyone about how well Gooden looked on the mound that day when I got home. I now remember Kevin McReynolds having a three-hit day, but I still do not love him.

I remember being at this game and as I recall Gary Carter, who had a horrible second half of the 1988 season, hit the game winning home run to win this game against the Buccos. Also this was shortly after Gregg Jefferies got called up and he was tearing up the league at that time and I thought this kid might be the real deal and I bought a bunch of his rookie cards. Oh well, live and learn.

Went to the game hoping the Mets would clinch as I did in 86. The Mets needed to win and the Pirates lose to clinch. However, no one knew in the stadium what the Pirates were doing because the out of town games were not listed on scoreboard and the radio broadcast would not announce the score of the Pirate game.

There was a riot cop in every aisle and mounted police came on to the field as soon as the game was over.

September 22, 1988 Shea Stadium
Mets 3, Philadelphia Phillies 1

Dan Doherty
February 11, 2004

My brother and I got tickets for this game at the last minute. I remember our seats were in the upper deck, and all through the top of the 9th inning, people were stomping and chanting "BEAT L.A.!!! BEAT L.A.!!!" so hard that the stadium was shaking.

This was an awesome game as the Mets clinched the NL East. I took my girlfriend (now wife) to a few games that season and she had never seen a major league game before 1988. She was with me to witness the clincher. Fans DID chant "beat LA" and "SWEEP" as we walked down the ramp from the Mezzanine and out in the parking lot where it was crazy! Fans were on top of cars and a few had crushed roofs. We drank Champagne and snapped photos with other MET fans and had a blast. With all the celebrating I only remember Darling pitched a complete game gem but not too much else about the game. Too much Andre Brut!

sportsfan8690
September 26, 2009

I was at this game in my season seat Field Box 163G and it was a special night as the Mets would clinch the NL East once again. When Ron Darling struck out Lance Parrish we all went crazy and nuts as the Mets were back in the playoffs. No one rushed the field like we all did in 1986 as the NYC Police was all prepared this time with officers along the baselines and on horses.

The merchandise stands already had the NL East Champs items such as t-shirts, pins and pennants at the stands sitting in boxes during the game. They could not sell them until the Mets officially won the NL East as I did try to buy them during the game. After we were finished celebrating after the game I bought the button and pennant and I still have them in my house with my Mets collection.

September 24, 1988 Busch Stadium
Mets 14, St. Louis Cardinals 1

Ed K
September 15, 2004

David West's only win as a Met before the highly touted prospect was sent to the Twins in the trade for Frank Viola at the 1989 trading deadline.

This was also the famous "hamburger" game. One of the Cardinals (I forget who, may have been Brunansky) put a hamburger on the 3rd base bag for Umpire Eric Gregg before the game as a joke. It made "This Week In Baseball" that next week. A nice memory from a fun last week of that season.

Funny thing looking back. After this game Channel 9 showed a "Remember 88" season highlight film. At one point Bob Klapisch is shown talking about the great season Oakland had and he makes a comment, "I can't wait to see this Canseco guy; I'm convinced he's on steroids."

One of the most exciting games of the series. Down 2-0 in the 9th Kevin McReynolds barrels over Mike Scioscia to give the Mets a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers. Orel Hershiser pitches well and this is just a taste of what he will do in the series.

Michael
May 9, 2008

Who would have ever thought we'd lose the series after this game? Scored 3 in the 9th off the unscored upon Hershiser. Fans and players alike I'm sure all thought after this game, more than ever, that LA just couldn't beat us.

All I recall about this game is that it was on late at night. The first pitch wasn't thrown until after 10:00 PM Eastern because ABC (and the other networks) televised the Vice Presidential debate between Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle. It was still a reasonable time for the West Coast, but not for New York.

The game wasn't any more interesting than the debate. The Mets fell behind early and never caught up. Since it was late and David Cone did not have his best stuff, I just shut it off and went to bed. Seeing that no one else has commented on this game yet, I'm guessing that I wasn't alone in doing this. It certainly wasn't worth staying awake to watch.

sportsfan8690
August 27, 2009

I was away on a high school camping trip in the wilderness in New Jersey and never got to watch this game live. My school teacher had a radio and kept me informed of everything that happened. Saw it on video two days later. I remember David Cone had called Jay Howell a "high school pitcher" after we won the night before and this seemed to juice the Dodgers up as they hit Cone good and tied the series. Also Tim Belcher pitched real well too. Mets could not hit well against him. Everyone always remembers Orel Hershiser or "Bulldog" as some of us call him (eventually would pitch for the Mets) in 1988 but no one talks about Tim Belcher. If Belcher was not there, Mets win this series in 5 games. He won 2 games in the series and he very well could have been the NLCS MVP. The Reds Chris Sabo had a big year and won NL Rookie of the Year, if not for him Belcher would have run away with that honor.

Here's a fun game. 40 degrees and raining all day, the field was an absolute mess. See Keith Hernandez fall down running from 2nd to 3d. See him fall down again on the same trip. See gimpy Kirk Gibson slip in the outfield and still catch a liner. See a comebacker to McDowell in the 8th. McDowell steps...and falls flat on his face. See McReynolds up in the 8th, Mets down 4- 3. Count is 3-0. See Davey Johnson come out of the dugout to talk to the umpire. What's that Davey? You say Jay Howell's got something in his glove? Apparently he's slipped some pine tar in there, and he's outta here! See the Dodgers try to win without their closer, and watch them implode. Watch the Mets string together a walk and four hits, and plate 5 runs. Watch David Cone close it out, and the Mets win a memorable one!

It was a wonderful day. My wife was pregnant. It was her due date. I kept watching the game and looking at her thinking that she was going to birth before the game was over. My son was very considerate; he did not come out until later that day. Here we are nearly 13 years later and he is the biggest Mets fan.

Oh I remember as it was yesterday on October 8th 1988, I was 12 Years old and was in the 7th grade,but man what a game that was it was my first ever playoff game ever because my father got the tickets the day before the game was rained out on friday and was rescheduled on a Saturday afternoon,we sat on the upperdeck behind homeplate there I was with my sweater and my Old school Mets Jacket and umbrella over my damp light blue old school met cap and shivering and shaking thoughout the game, I remember when the crowd went wild when Daryl Strawberry's pop fly turned out to be a base hit when Dodger left fielder (could not remember who it was at the time)dropped the ball and the Sharp tv moniter showed a cartoon video of a Dodger outfielder getting burried by Strawberries. Then during the middle of the game my father and I walked one level down and found two seats unoccupied so we sat on them for the rest of the game, so as my father was standing during every time the Mets had a rally I stood on my chair and highfived the fan who was sitting next to me, soon after the game was over as my father and I were exiting Shea everybody around us were all yelling out (LA CHEATS,LA CHEATS,LA CHEATS.)In reference to Jay Howells pine tar incident.

Bob
May 31, 2002

What a wild one! Game 3 had actually been scheduled for the night before (Friday night) but it was a miserable day and night, and the game was postponed. I think game 3 wound up starting at noon on Saturday. I've been to Shea a couple of hundred times, and that was the coldest I've ever been. I know it was snowing in the upper deck in left field where we were sitting. But we had a great view of Gibson falling and Keith doing the breaststroke into third base. Of course, we had no clue what was going on when Jay Howell was ejected. Luckily someone near us had a radio.

This was one of the worst postseason moments in Mets history. Doc Gooden was sailing along on a cold night at Shea. It looked like the Mets were about to take a 3-1 series lead over the Dodgers, and a return trip to the World Series looked imminent. And then along came Mike Scioscia. His three-run homer tied the game, and I think everyone at Shea felt like they'd been punched in the stomach.

I remember sitting in the cheap seats which, of course, weren't all that cheap, with a full bladder. I was too cold to get up from my seat, and I didn't want to miss a pitch, so I just sat there with the urine freezing inside of me as the game went into extra innings. Eventually, Kirk Gibson would hit a homer, Orel Hershiser would come out of the bullpen to stamp out a Mets rally, and I'd finally get to visit the restroom. It was a horrible turn of events, and you could make an argument that it took the Mets organization 11 years to recover. But at least I didn't sustain any kidney damage.

Stems31
July 26, 2001

I was 14 years old sitting in the loge section right behind the "Karate Kid"...yup, the one and only Ralph Macchio, man was he small. I remember it being cold and damp and Hernandez wearing just his short sleeve uniform with no long sleeve shirt underneath. Anyway, when Scoscia hit that home run...I deflated. Oh, what could have been.

As far as I'm concerned this game marked the end of the ride for Mets fans in the '80s. Gooden sailed into the 9th pitching as well as he had in years - it was the old Dr. K back in town. We were going to go up 3 games to 1 and close the series out at home on Monday. I remember that with one out in the 9th, he had John Shelby dead to rights on a couple of hooks and Shelby just managed to foul them off. I think there was a bad call on an inside fastball too, but maybe its just my imagination running wild. Anyway, Shelby walked and then Scoscia followed with his blast.

Anyway, once the ball went out you just knew the Mets were done. Then the next day the Dodgers roughed up El Sid and we were effectively done.

This was the one and only postseason game I've ever been too. I was 15 and so excited about the Mets and it seemed like a perfect game - Gooden was pitching well, Strawberry and McReynolds went back to back, and the Mets were headed to the World Series. Until they blew it in the 9th. I cried myself to sleep that night, knowing that this game was going to turn the series. What if Johnson had brought in Randy Myers? I think it would have been a 1-2-3 ninth. But he went with his heart and left Doc in there. Not saying it was a terrible move, but I just remember how good Myers was that year. The fact that the Mets had the bases loaded with 1 out in their last at bat and couldn't get the tying run home added to the sting. The Mets beat the Dodgers 10 of 11 times in the regular season. This should never have happened.

The significance of this game combined with the fact that I was actually there make this the saddest sports memory of my life. Maybe if the Mets had beaten the Yankees in 2000 it would have exorcised the demons - but alas, the suffering of Mets fans continues.

murphy
May 21, 2005

Without a doubt this game was the most painful loss of my life. I really don't like to think about watching Scioscia's ball go over the wall. It was a swift kick to the groin with a steel-toed boot. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Mets would have wiped out the A's in the World Series. It still hurts to this day.

Wihtout a doubt, the worst game I've ever experienced at Shea. It was so festive in the top of the ninth. I thought to myself: "We're gonna go up 3-1 and I'll be here tomorrow to see us actually win the pennant." But I also CLEARLY remember asking my dad, before Mike Scioscia came to the plate: "Why doesn't Davey have Randy Myers warmed up to pitch to Scioscia in this situation?" To this day, I still believe if Davey made this move, we would've been back in the World Series.

Jim
July 12, 2005

I'm trying to remember a Gary Carter triple in this game, and drawing a blank.

Bob K.
November 5, 2006

My recollection is that Gary Carter was on third base with fewer than two outs and did not score, a typical failing for the Mets even in that great year. Had someone found a way to drve him in earlier in the game, the Scioscia home run wouyld have been a ho-hum footnote to a glorious Mets win. But nooooooooooooooo!

As soon as Gooden put a runner on base in the 9th, Johnson should have removed him. Other than Orel, this was not a good Dodger team. Come on... Micky Hatcher, John Shelby. Ham and eggers. But a bad move by Johnson cost the Mets a date in the World Series.

I was sitting in mezzanine reserved, wondering why Randy Myers wasn't warming up in the top of the ninth...Gooden walked John T-Bone Shelby, and up came Mike F. Scioscia, when a guy behind me comments, "If this guy hits a homer, it's tied up!"

Of course, I respond, "Yeah, but he doesn't have much power; he only hit about 4 homers all year!"

This was the second worst game in Mets history (the worst being the Pendleton game from Sept. 11 of the previous year.) It was the most obvious move in the world -- frankly, a no- brainer -- to bring in the smoking Randy Myers to finish off the Dodgers. But Johnson had it in his head that Gooden was entitled to finish the game. This bonehead mentality cost the Mets their third World Series victory. What no one has mentioned is that once Gooden walked Shelby, it was even MORE obvious that he bring in Myers. It would have been Myers vs. the aging no-power Rick Dempsey, who was the righty version of the catcher platoon. Just like the Pendelton game, the Mets lacked the character to recover from this. Every honest fan knew they were dead. Strangely, the Mets hold the distinction of having been defeated in the playoffs by the two worst (and untalented) world champions in history, the 1988 Dodgers and 2006 Cardinals.

Michael
August 14, 2009

Was at this game, season ticket holder Field Box 163g, seat 1, this game was deja vu of 9/11/87 of the Terry Pendleton home run. Mike Scioscia had hit only 3 home runs all year and no one thought this would happen and it did. Davey Johnson made his worst decision ever as manger by not removing Gooden after he walked John Shelby on an 0-2 count. That should have a sign he was tired and it was Randy Myers time. Myers would have come in and Tommy Lasorda would have the aging Rick Dempsey pinch hit since he was right handed. Scioscia usually did hit against tough lefties like Myers. The potential dynasty that could have been was over after this and we never saw the playoffs again until 1999. Davey Johnson should have been fired after losing this NLCS for his bad moves.

What a miserable experience. I remember 3 three things clearly: 1. it was raining, I was in the right field upper deck, not too far past first base and I had never seen rain going horizontally before. It was coming at us from the Long Island Sound instead of the clouds. 2. I remember our short-lived ecstasy when the Dodgers pitcher, what was that SOB's name? was ejected when they found pine-tar in his glove and 3. the whole game was summed up by Keith Hernandez getting tagged out reaching for third base, crawling, about 2 feet from the bag: not even close! That's when we knew it was over.

One of my all time favorite Met stories. Before Sid threw in Game 5 of the playoffs in 1988 (The night before was the Scioscia disaster) I got to the ballpark early. The Dodgers were finishing batting practice and Lasorda was holding court with the media in front of the dugout. Some Met fan was at the rail behind homeplate, above the netting, in the Loge. He screamed "Tommy, Tommy" at least 50 times to try to get Lasorda's attention. As Lasorda finished he decides to wave to this obvious fan, as he makes eye contact and waves the guy screams, "Lasorda you fat f**k!" Lasorda looked shocked. I almost peed myself. I figured we were gonna right the ship with that omen, then El Sid goes out and pitches a crappy game and we end up losing the playoffs. Great story, terrible game.

It was the night after the Scoscia disaster and I was sure we would turn it around. I was driving back to college after a weekend home (maybe it was Columbus day) and left early. I remember listening to Gibson take El Sid deep early on and it just went downhill from there. I have this whole series on tape and I've never once watched it. It's too painful.

Jeff In Florida
July 30, 2003

There had been some debate over if it was better to show this 12PM start live in Hawaii (for Hawaiian pitcher Sid Feznandez) which would have been about 3am, or to show it on tape delay. I remember that after Sid was hammered, the guys on TV said that they didn't know the outcome of the debate but if it would be tape delayed, Sid Fernandez might want to burn the tape.

Putbeds 1986
March 1, 2006

To Dave, You were commenting about Game 3. Btw, the weather was sunny but cold for October for Game 5 because my friend Gary has photos of Game 5 and shows them to me once in a while. He sat on the third base side for that game and has great shots of Straw, Jefferies, Gibson and Lasorda.

I have chilling memories about this game. We were excited to have tickets to a playoff game, but we did underdress because it was FREEZING and WINDY!! Thank goodness some people brought a blanket to block some of the wind from behind, but after they left early we FROZE!

Someone mentioned this before, but seeing Keith Hernandez trip running third and getting tagged out crawling to third...it was so pathetic, yet appropriate of how the Mets played that day. They just didn't have it then, and the core of the '86 team -Keith, Carter, even Gooden - was past their prime.

One happy note - found a great place in Woodside for some well-earned Irish coffee!

sportsfan8690
April 9, 2010

I was at this game sitting in my season seat Field Box 163g. Also I was at game 4 that ended in the wee hours of the morning and was right back at less than 9 hours after that game ended with not much sleep. So it was a quick day game after a real late night game.

It seemed the whole stadium was still in shock that the Mets had game 4 won and let it get away with a lot of questionable moves by Davey Johnson that cost the game. No doubt the Dodgers had the momentum as Kirk Gibson hit another home run and the Dodgers got way ahead early and the Mets showed no desire or inspiration to fight back in the game and lost 7- 4 and were in a 3-2 hole going back to LA for the next 2 games.

Two reasons why the Mets did not win the 1988 NLCS was Davey Johnson making some bad decisions and the team showing no heart or emotion which the Dodgers no doubt did have.

I did a two-sport day/night doubleheader this day. Went to the NLCS game 5 at Shea Stadium during the day and after the game headed right to Madison Square Garden to see the Rangers first home game of the 1988-89 season against the Devils. The Rangers lost that game with the Devils scoring the winning goal late in the game. While at the game I kept an eye on the TV as the Giants were playing on MNF in Philadelphia and they lost late in that game as Randall Cunningham just ran all over the Giants single-handedly. My teams were 0-3 on this day.

Why did we win this game? Cone's pitching had something to do with it. However, Davey Johnson finally put Backman back in the 2 spot of the lineup. The wildboys were back together for the last time but look at how they did in the game!

got a stack of pizzas for this one. delicious. went to my sisters house it was packed. A very long night. The World Series tickets were in my hands. Oh what should have been. To this day I don't wanna talk about. So i'll leave it at that.

Bob Mercier
November 24, 2001

I must say this was indeed a great upset. I say that because the Mets should have been in the World Series in 1988 against the A's and not the Dodgers. It also seemed like when the dodgers got the 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd that made this upset become official. That could have been a great World Series the A's and the Mets but it was not to be here in 1988. It seems like the Mets going 100-60 in the regular season was not official all the way. well what do I mean by that? I mean they did not win the World Series for the icing on the cake. It was that old saying of 100 wins means nothing without the title showed up in this year of 1988 for the Mets.

I remember that my Dad and I used to argue all the time over Ron Darling. I loved him and he hated him. I remember the double kick-in-the-gut that this game became when Ron blew up early. Watching the final seven innings was almost like having a root canal. I was almost relieved when HoJo struck out to end it. What a shame.

Jeff In Florida
December 31, 2004

I remember this game as a sad lesson in life. I was not quite 13 at the time and to me, the Mets were the best. They had won the series in 1986 and I believed that they only lost in 1987 because of injuries. This game taught me that the Mets (The team that I still love) were human and were capible of losing. Ron Darling (my second favorite Mets pitcher at the time) was in fact not a big game pitcher (remember his start in WS game 7) and I had the accept the fact the Orel was actually just a better pitcher. Sad game. Hard lesson. I held out hope even after falling behind 6-0. The Mets did have some explosive hitters. However, Orel's strike out of HOJO was a symbol of thigs to come. Johnson was a fastball hitter and he struck out on a fastball.

Cat in Albany
February 7, 2005

My dorm room at SUNY Buffalo was packed at the start. It was a very festive atmosphere and there was even talk of a World Series Road Trip to Shea.

After the Jeffries error in the bottom of the second, the dorm emptied out. Knowing the Mets and their propensity for crazy memorable games (think Atlanta game 6 in 1999), I stayed alone, in my dorm in Buffalo, watching every painful out as Orel mowed the Mutts down.

I remember thinking that watching this till the end would make it that much sweeter when the Mets came back the next year. Too bad it was going to be a decade before the Mutts would rise again.

Still, on the positive side, without Ron Darling's implosion and this loss, there would be no Gibson gimpy, walk-off, pinch-hit dinger in game 1 of the World Series. That is arguably in the top 5 hits in World Series history!

Professor G
June 10, 2005

Davey's managerial decision still sticks in my craw: If Doc Gooden - clearly our best pitcher that year - was OK to come in in relief, then he was healthy enough to start. He should've gotten the ball in this must-win against Hershiser.

Jeff In Florida
September 23, 2005

That's a manager's curse. Had Gooden been bombed in the game everyone would have said, why didn't they start Darling, a 17 game winner on regular rest? Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The other comments reflect the absolute destruction of hope this game produced. I was so bummed I went out for a three-mile run after it was over. The next day I looked forward to the second Presidential debate, but my man, Dukakis, screwed himself with a lousy response to the very first question! I was devastated, two 'body blows' in two days.

Mike A.
December 17, 2007

Watched this game in my dorm during my freshman year at college, deep in the heart of Phillies country. Let's just say that nobody played any violins for me after the game, ha-ha!

This game to me, was the end of Davey Johnson's career with the Mets. Until then, he had kept a loose grip on the team, making sure they disciplined themselves on and off the field.

But this painful game showed that Davey's policy had run its course. Not just the brutal pitching, but the absolute lack of fundamentals in the field, as shown by the Jefferies error.

The Mets basically played as 9 separate individuals rather than 9 player team... and it was going to get worse in the future.

Michael
May 13, 2008

Without question, considering the magnitude of the game, the 2nd inning of this game was by far the worst inning in team history. It included a botched bunt, 2 errors, and 4 hits.

Michael
May 13, 2008

One more note... I just watched this game again (please don't ask why, I really have no idea!) and as painful as 2006 was to us, this game was BY FAR the worst loss in the history of the franchise.

I just remember knowing the Stems were going to lose, seemingly before the game started, but certainly from the 2nd inning on, but for some reason forcing myself to watch the whole game, all the way to the bitter end, my eyes welling up with tears the whole time.

sportsfan8690
December 23, 2009

This 1988 NLCS game 7 is one you would like to forget for a Mets fan like me but it's hard to do that.

To me it wasn't that the Mets lost this game but how they lost. Only 24 hours before David Cone pitches a terrific game 6 to force game 7.

It's always said anything can happen in a game 7 no matter who the starters are and the game 6 winner a lot of times has that momentum and mental edge going into the 7th game. Not so on this night as the Mets came out so flat and uninspired that it seemed as the Dodgers won game 6 to force this game even though that was not the case.

I know Orel Hershiser was on the hill for the Dodgers but that was no excuse for the Mets to come out so flat. Even 20+ years later I still can't understand why they played with no emotion or spark with a trip to the World Series on the line. To me if a team should lose a game 7, I prefer it to come down to the final pitch just like in 2006 to St. Louis. This 1988 version was over before the first inning ended.

sportsfan8690
December 23, 2009

Another note I want to add about this 1988 NLCS game 7 is that it should have been at Shea Stadium. The Mets would have had this game at home if home field advantage which was not already determined even before spring training camps opened. It was alternated each year which division winner got home field advantage regardless of who had the most wins. It did not make sense.

In 1988 the Mets had way more wins than the Dodgers and were 10-1 against them in the regular season. The Mets for this should have had game 7 at home and maybe the NLCS results might have been a lot different and the Mets might have 3 World Championships right now.

The same thing could have happened in 1986 if the Mets did not win game 6 and had to face Mike Scott in the AstroDome for game 7.

It was not until 10 years later in 1998 that MLB office finally changed the rule that home field advantage goes to the team with the best record in their league, that was 10 years too late for the 1988 Mets.

Hot Foot
October 28, 2015

This game is the only time I've ever cried because of sports. I distinctly remember when Howard Johnson struck out to end the series- I started crying and I couldn't stop. I ran into my room and my dad knocked on my door and said something like "just wait 'till next year."

Well, the next year, in spring training, Darryl Strawberry punched Keith Hernandez on photo day and nothing was ever the same.

Irrationally, for many years, I harbored resentment against Howard Johnson for striking out to end the game. No matter how many home runs he hit or bases he stole, I would always think, "yeah, but he still struck out to end the '88 series." Even after he retired, I still defined him by this moment. He was never HoJo to me after this game, he was the guy who killed my dreams. It was only in the 2000s that I looked at the box score and was reminded that the score was 6-0.

Hot Foot
August 11, 2015

This game is the only time I've ever cried because of sports. I distinctly remember when Howard Johnson struck out to end the series- I started crying and I couldn't stop.